 | |  | |  |
Urban Retirement
Ahh....Where?
Ahh....Where?
| 12 Cities in 12 Months - Living the Life of a Local |
| UrbanAWhere.com |
 | |  | |  |
| Charlotte |
Why Charlotte ?
I selected Charlotte in kind of a strange way. I had originally picked Asheville, NC but decided, after some
input from people who had lived there, that it was too much of a "hippie" town, too cold and too hilly for
me. Now I needed a city between Charleston and Annapolis so it pretty much needed to be in North
Carolina. I selected Charlotte because it is a good airport hub and there is a lot of "professional" business
there so I thought the people would be interesting.
I selected Charlotte in kind of a strange way. I had originally picked Asheville, NC but decided, after some
input from people who had lived there, that it was too much of a "hippie" town, too cold and too hilly for
me. Now I needed a city between Charleston and Annapolis so it pretty much needed to be in North
Carolina. I selected Charlotte because it is a good airport hub and there is a lot of "professional" business
there so I thought the people would be interesting.
Walkability & Biking (4)
I am giving it a 4 instead of a 5 only because it is kind of hilly! Actually, the city has done a great job
marked bike routes on the streets that give a nice relaxing ride through residential neighborhoods,
parks and some with pretty good distances. The walking was good with well-maintained sidewalks and
I was close to grocery stores, restaurants and other cool stuff.
I am giving it a 4 instead of a 5 only because it is kind of hilly! Actually, the city has done a great job
marked bike routes on the streets that give a nice relaxing ride through residential neighborhoods,
parks and some with pretty good distances. The walking was good with well-maintained sidewalks and
I was close to grocery stores, restaurants and other cool stuff.
My Temporary Digs
My place in Charlotte was fantastic! It had a screened porch where I could have coffee in the morning and
wine in the evening. There was room in the living room to set up the airbed for the many guests I had this
month. The location was only a mile from downtown and had great access to biking through residential
areas and on greenways. James, Jim and Lisa were extremely helpful and accommodating. THE HOME
COLLECTION CHARLOTTE
My place in Charlotte was fantastic! It had a screened porch where I could have coffee in the morning and
wine in the evening. There was room in the living room to set up the airbed for the many guests I had this
month. The location was only a mile from downtown and had great access to biking through residential
areas and on greenways. James, Jim and Lisa were extremely helpful and accommodating. THE HOME
COLLECTION CHARLOTTE
Transportation (5)
Transportation was really good. In town, you have the Blue Lync rail system to get to mall from
downtown. You have good buses and, best of all, the airport is a major hub. It did cost a little more
than Sarasota did but you had a lot more options of where to go. Traffic was bad sometimes on the
major freeways (rushhour) but I just avoided them at that time. There were lots of options.
Transportation was really good. In town, you have the Blue Lync rail system to get to mall from
downtown. You have good buses and, best of all, the airport is a major hub. It did cost a little more
than Sarasota did but you had a lot more options of where to go. Traffic was bad sometimes on the
major freeways (rushhour) but I just avoided them at that time. There were lots of options.
Weather, Culture, Food & Amenities (2)
Weather? Well, I did have a few cold days in May but it was mostly very pleasant. This city does get
snow in winter and humidity in summer but it's probably tolerable. I didn't find much in the way of
culture. I loved being so close to Asheville (2 hr) so I could go to the Biltmore estate to see the
wonderful gardens and house. Also, the Grove Park Inn was a great destination there. The food in
Charlotte was not much to rave about. I did try several restaurants in listed as "the best" in various
parts of town but nothing stands out. Overall, it was a little boring but very pretty, green and relaxing.
Weather? Well, I did have a few cold days in May but it was mostly very pleasant. This city does get
snow in winter and humidity in summer but it's probably tolerable. I didn't find much in the way of
culture. I loved being so close to Asheville (2 hr) so I could go to the Biltmore estate to see the
wonderful gardens and house. Also, the Grove Park Inn was a great destination there. The food in
Charlotte was not much to rave about. I did try several restaurants in listed as "the best" in various
parts of town but nothing stands out. Overall, it was a little boring but very pretty, green and relaxing.
Real Estate (4)
I didn't really look at a lot of real estate here because I decided pretty early on that I was not going to
choose this city. The neighborhood I lived in, Dilworth, was probably where I would have chosen
though. It was very close to downtown and as close as you could get to most of the restaurant areas
and music venues (They were spread out in pockets all over the city.). The houses were mostly brick
or craftsman style. They had front porches and just the kind of architecture that I like. The lawns
were green with lots of trees and roses. It was affordable as, even in this neighborhood close to
downtown, I could find several houses between $300 and $400K.
I didn't really look at a lot of real estate here because I decided pretty early on that I was not going to
choose this city. The neighborhood I lived in, Dilworth, was probably where I would have chosen
though. It was very close to downtown and as close as you could get to most of the restaurant areas
and music venues (They were spread out in pockets all over the city.). The houses were mostly brick
or craftsman style. They had front porches and just the kind of architecture that I like. The lawns
were green with lots of trees and roses. It was affordable as, even in this neighborhood close to
downtown, I could find several houses between $300 and $400K.
The People (5)
Everyone was very friendly and said hi on the street. The population was mostly upper middle class
and did not seem real class-oriented. Of course the best part was that 2 of my friends from Phoenix
(Andersen/Accenture) lived here. We hadn't seen each other for over 25 years but, as it always is
with friends from that time in my life, it's like you never left. Tom and Vicki Myers have 2 kids who are
both now in college (Addison got to meet them). Scott and Robin Brennan have 3 kids who are
"almost" all in college. It's just weird to think that our kids are about the age we were when we all
worked together!!
Everyone was very friendly and said hi on the street. The population was mostly upper middle class
and did not seem real class-oriented. Of course the best part was that 2 of my friends from Phoenix
(Andersen/Accenture) lived here. We hadn't seen each other for over 25 years but, as it always is
with friends from that time in my life, it's like you never left. Tom and Vicki Myers have 2 kids who are
both now in college (Addison got to meet them). Scott and Robin Brennan have 3 kids who are
"almost" all in college. It's just weird to think that our kids are about the age we were when we all
worked together!!
